Chapter 15 Vad
Vad
Idrew Briar behind me and flared my wings in warning.
To my right, a narrow crack split the stone wall—just wide enough for one person to fit through.
From its shadows, a guard stepped into view.
Leather armor clung to his frame, streaked with blood and torn with what looked like bite marks.
His gloved hand gripped a lowered sword.
“Your Majesty?” he called, voice cautious. “Do you and the queen require assistance?”
My nostrils flared. He was saying the right things, but I didn’t trust him. Not after the betrayals that had driven us into the underground tunnels of the palace, into the waiting jaws of shadow beasts.
This could be a trap, Briar linked, exhaustion and strain weighing on our connection.
My blood warmed to an uncomfortable level without the restraint of my cold shadow magic. The thought of us being attacked with Briar in this situation was worrying, especially if there were more than a few guards.
He might be alone, or he could be bait. I couldn’t afford to guess wrong. Not with Briar trembling behind me.
Can you still tell if he’s lying? I stood in front of her, ready to rip out his throat.
Briar hesitated. Lie to me.
My head jerked so I could look at her over my shoulder. What?
My wolf feels distant. She’s how I can tell if someone is lying. I need to make sure I can still tell.
It took me a moment to think of what to say as a lie. You are an Ignis Fae and your hair is pink. Also, I don’t ever want to meet your family.
Her features twisted, her nose wrinkling. I can still tell. It’s not as strong as usual, but you do stink. A faint smile touched her lips despite everything. Ask him whatever you want. I’ve got your back. She stepped up beside me, leaning into me for support.
Pride and fear warred in my chest. I could still feel the pain the Guardian Shadow Beast had put her through. But she chose to stand with me. My warrior and mate.
The guard edged farther into the cavern. “Your Majesties?” His voice shook. “I swear—I am no threat to either of you.”
I lifted my chin. “Are you in league with anyone who wishes harm on my queen?”
“No, Your Majesty. I swear it.” He dropped to one knee.
“Captain Finbar has sent scouts like me to find you. He’s taken control of one of the lower barracks.
He has resources and information about what’s happening in the palace.
And above all else, he remains loyal to your bloodline and queen.
” The guard bowed his head. “Whatever proof you require, I’ll give it. ”
He isn’t lying. Then Briar spoke aloud. “Do you mean any harm to King Vad?” She nudged my arm lightly, causing her legs to tremble. You can’t just ask if he means to hurt me. Your life matters too.
I bit back the smile rising to my lips. Even now, bruised and burned, she was fierce.
The guard shook his head. “I give you my solemn word that I mean no harm to King Vad. I am in service to both of you. There are still a handful of us left.”
He’s telling…the truth. Briar winced, tucking her burning wrists against her chest while hiding the pain from the man before us.
My frown deepened. The link hadn’t faltered before. Either something had shifted, or I was imagining things. Regardless, I couldn’t ignore the ache of what the Guardian Shadow Beast had put her through. I braced my hands on my belt. “And Captain Finbar wants us to follow you?”
Briar’s hand caught my arm before I could take another step. She linked, What about the others? Where are they? What if they’ve run out of oil, or the water keeps rising?
The sharp weight of her worry pressed into me through the bond, tightening around my chest. Her voice didn’t shake, but her fear bled through every word.
I turned to face her and placed my hand over hers.
Elara, Vyraetos, Veralt, and Rhielle can see in the dark.
We’d moved through the worst of the narrowing passage, and Elara, Thalen, and Silus know the way.
The best we can do now is get supplies and information.
If we reach the vesting chamber and they’re not there, we act.
But believe me when I say that I trust Silas and Thalen to find a way to get them all to safety.
Her lips trembled, and her fingers curled tighter. All right. Of course I trust you.
Stay on guard. This one is telling the truth, but the others could have lied to him.
The guard hesitated at the entrance he’d come through, his hand resting on the wall like he could sense the tension behind him. “Your Majesties?” His voice was careful. “Is anything wrong?”
“No,” I said, keeping my tone clipped. “Lead the way. Quickly.” I took Briar’s hand.
He nodded and turned, accepting the warning without flinching. "This way, Your Majesties. Stay close. The passages aren't secure, and the shadow beasts have gone mad."
I moved after him, ducking low to pass through the narrow split. The ceiling lifted on the other side, the stone walls ascending upward in a sharp incline.
“How far is it?” Briar clutched my hand, her breathing steady despite her condition.
“Not too far, Your Majesty.” The guard glanced back.
Though his sword stayed at his side, his grip had tightened.
“We cleared out the tunnels as we searched, but the area is unstable. The yellow-eyed shadow beasts are attacking everyone. But the red-eyed ones… they are different. They seem to be looking for something.” He swallowed and dropped his voice.
“They don’t even look at us. Just pass by like we’re nothing.
Terrifying in their own way, but better than the others.
The yellow ones will tear you apart before you can scream. ”
“What’s your name, soldier?” Briar spoke in a quiet voice, but it carried easily through the stone corridor. She walked with steady grace despite her exhaustion.
“Brelven, son of Theln.” He led us to the right as the tunnel forked and the incline grew steeper with every step.
The stone walls shifted from deep jet and charcoal to a softer, cooler slate gray.
We were moving into the western side of the palace.
If Finbar had formed a rebellion and taken control of one of the lower outposts, the direction made sense because those were located just beneath the palace level, but a couple of levels higher than the vesting chamber.
They were isolated and defensible but could be blocked off and turned into a trap by anyone who knew the terrain.
If Finbar’s soldiers were stationed here, it meant the primary paths were either secured or laid with traps.
I hoped Thalen’s caution would serve the rest of our group well.
I didn’t want us all converging into one place yet, not until I knew the full extent of Finbar’s forces and whether their loyalty to Briar matched their loyalty to me.
As we continued upward, the passage widened. The air smelled less stale here, with hints of leather and oil. Brelven slowed his pace and raised a hand in a cautionary gesture.
"We're approaching a checkpoint," he whispered. "Don’t be alarmed."
We rounded a sharp corner and came upon two Shadow Fae guards blocking a narrow stone archway. Their armor was better maintained than Brelven’s, but their expressions were taut with exhaustion. Their hands hovered near their weapons.
"Halt," the taller one commanded. Then his eyes locked with mine, and his entire stance shifted. "Your Majesty? You’re alive."
“So I am.” I lifted my chin and gently tugged Briar closer to me.
Brelven stepped between us and the guards. “Captain Finbar requested they be brought directly to him. He’s in the war room.”
The guards shared a brief glance. The shorter one gave a stiff nod. “He’ll want to see them immediately.”
I studied them carefully, noting the way their gazes darted between Briar and me.
I narrowed my gaze. “Before we proceed, I want your oaths. Do you swear loyalty to me and to Queen Briar?”
Without hesitation, both men dropped to one knee, fists clenched to their chests.
“Our lives are yours, Your Majesty,” the taller one said. “For the crown. For the queen.”
Briar linked to me, the bond warm with amusement despite her pain. Are you going to make every person we meet swear loyalty to me like that?
Of course, I linked back.
The guards stood and stepped aside.
As we passed through the arch, a large cavern spread before us, roughly carved but well-organized. Torches lined the walls, casting a golden glow over the shadows within.
Roughly fifteen soldiers and a handful of servants moved about with quiet purpose.
Five guards crouched at makeshift tables, repairing armor or sharpening blades.
Two sat near crates of crossbow bolts, testing the balance before sliding them into quivers.
Others organized supplies along the back wall by stacking crates, unrolling maps, tying bundles of cloth and bandages.
The cavern hummed with urgent energy, the soldiers speaking in hushed tones as they worked. Torches lined the walls, casting long shadows across the stone floor. Despite the circumstances, there was order here—purpose.
“This way,” Brelven said, cutting through the cavern’s center.
I kept Briar close, wrapping one wing slightly around her without drawing attention. Her fingers tightened in mine, but her posture stayed straight, with no hint of weakness.
A few soldiers paused as we passed, some bowing their heads, others dropping to one knee. I didn’t trust them. All it took was one traitor.
These were soldiers who’d bled under Colm’s attack. Some had likely watched friends die because of him. But loyalty to me didn’t guarantee loyalty to Briar, not when propaganda and fear had twisted so many truths.
I didn’t like being this exposed. And judging by the twitch of Briar’s fingers against my palm, neither did she.